Community Monitoring of Seabirds

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Brown Noddies on Lancelin Island (Photo N. Dunlop).
Brown Noddies on Lancelin Island (Photo N. Dunlop).

New research to find out where seabirds are feeding acts as predictive indicators of oceanic conditions, with particular relevance to fisheries and marine reserves.

The research, coordinated by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC), brings together experts from around the world, including the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA), the Department of Fisheries, seabird biologists Dr Jill Shephard and Dr Chris Surman and the University of Amsterdam, to engage coastal communities in monitoring seabird foraging patterns along WA’s west coast.

According to Dr Nic Dunlop, seabird biologist and Citizen Science Co-ordinator at the CCWA, the project team recently trialed the methodology by fitting tiny radio trackers to two Sooty Terns at the Abrolhos Islands. These terns spent days feeding out at sea, and upon their return, the GPS information from their trackers was auotmatically downloaded to a base station at the Saville Kent Centre on Rat Island.

Sooty Tern tracking data at the Abrolhos Islands.
Sooty Tern tracking data at the Abrolhos Islands.

At the start of the next breeding season later this year, more trackers will be fitted to Sooty Terns at the Abrolhos Islands and to Brown Noddies at Lancelin Island. Tracking data will be collected over a number of successive breeding seasons before the project is finalised.

In the last decade WA fisheries have experienced substantial change as a result of altered oceanic processes. In the face of continued changes, new bio-indicators serve as tools in fishery

and biodiversity management. Seabird foraging patterns are linked to ocean productivity, which means that seabirds can be used to gather information on fisheries.

“The initial tracking data shows that the two Sooty Terns fed in completely different locations” says Dr Dunlop. “This was unexpected and might indicate that two different foraging strategies are employed by these birds during chick rearing, known as ‘bi-modal foraging’. If this proves to be the case, it will be the first time this behaviour has been discovered in a tern species”.

If all this sounds interesting and you would like to find out more, as well as learn how you can get involved, please come along to a community presentation and workshop at the WA Museum – Geraldton on Wednesday 26th Feb 5:30-7:30 pm. As a bonus, the Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition will also be available for viewing. Numbers are limited so please RSVP to Felicity Beswick on 9938 0108 or felicity.beswick@nacc.com.au

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.